Ocoee as a Beginner/ Intermediate - Whitewater Kayaking

[@syrup_samurai]

Take it from someone watching kayaking videos on KZbin because they are recovering from a dislocated shoulder- you made the right call letting go of your paddle there! Nice one!

[@JerKayaks]

Thanks for watching! I totally agree with you! :)

[@hardluk3]

Absolutely. Cost of replacing a paddle is cheap compared to a broken wrist and lost time at work.

[@michaelmcclain6899]

Get it girl!

[@JerKayaks]

Thanks! Trying my best out there! - Ashley

[@alowatsakima8950]

catch every eddy. There are so many moves on the Ocoee. Not just the rapids but there are so many hidden moves, it takes years to learn all of them, and then you have probably missed some. Paddled it for 34 years and never got tired of paddling it.

[@JerKayaks]

Plenty of eddies to catch, theres also lots of footage that doesn't always end up making the final vid :) these are just snippets from the day. Cant wait to get back out there and paddle it more. - Portage Posse Team

[@solonutiket564]

That first time was so intense. But with practice I mad it my home. Sometimes I hide in the lost lagoon to at lunch. Forget the rapids there are so many other moves, eddy's that make the Ocoee more challenging. Keep it up, catch every eddy and go where others haven't. When it becomes your home you'll be at home.

[@JerKayaks]

Totally agree! I can't wait to work some more with Ashley and get her all caught up and comfortable on the ocoee soon! Thanks for watching! -Jer

[@solonutiket564]

Can you find he hidden lagoon on the Ocoee. Its there, but know one knows where it is.

[@travishalford5223]

Takes guts to tackle the ocoee props to you! Hoping to make my pfd there this year and I'll be in a creek boat as well 😅

[@pinkpackraft]

My PFD will also be in a creeker! 😊

[@IraFowler3]

Fun day out there!

[@JerKayaks]

Always! - Ashley

[@austinchamberlain7513]

Good, solid first PFD, like you said! Great recovery on the diamond splitter incident! I’ve never run the left line there. I’m be done Ocoee lite a few times but have always portages tablesaw and cheat lined hell hole. You killed it!! So cool, and thanks for sharing

[@JerKayaks]

Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience! I honestly anticipated portaging or running the sneak line on a few things out there, but was just feeling pretty solid that day! - Ashley

[@zacsav4ge100]

Lol you seem fun to paddle with. I like how you said there was no memorable things about the rapids but im sure youre going to remenber diamond now 😂

[@JerKayaks]

haha I try to be! and well, not that there wasn't ~anything~ memorable haha, just nothing really to make note of between certain sections :) - Ashley

[@zacsav4ge100]

@JerKayaks yep sun and fun! Splish splash waves its great. Love seeing ocoee pfds its my fav place on earth

[@tdotson66]

Outstanding video. 👍👍

[@JerKayaks]

Thank you! 👍 :)

[@solonutiket564]

I think you did better than I did on my first time, but that was the beginning. Catch every eddy. That way you will master the river. Look for the hidden lagoon. You'll know it when you find it. There are so many moves on the ocoee most people don't wee or do. find them and do them. see you out there.

[@JerKayaks]

Ooooh hidden lagoon? I'll have to go out there and explore some more too! Thanks for watching! :) -Jer

[@BoundlessFPV]

Diamond Splitter got me on my PFD as well. Everything else was great

[@JerKayaks]

lol darn you diamond splitter! Going back for revenge next time! - Ashley

[@JamTagg]

Good decision making on the boat for your PFD. Much better to be safe and an asett to the others in your group than choose a sportier boat and lean more toward being a liability. Also excellent advice about taking a second to look around before you launch in the middle of a rapid. Situational awareness is always a key priority. Better to move smart than fast if and when you have the option. Strong group and fun for everyone-minded mentality and congrats on an awesome first run! You crushed it!

[@JerKayaks]

Absolutely! Great points all around! Thanks for watching and sharing the stoke! - Ashley

[@JamTagg]

@@JerKayaks well, the stoke is bringing on new meaning for me. I just signed up for a trip to make my own PFD of the Ocoee this Saturday with the Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club!! Can't wait to get to it!

[@Cade_Burkhardt]

Noooooo the one weekend I couldn’t go you guys were there

[@JerKayaks]

Theres always next time, I cant wait to get back out there! - Ashley

[@RichardMularski]

Great video Great Recovery Great Attitude...Hope to get to meet all the Portage Peeeps..@ USNWWC..in a couple of weeks

[@JerKayaks]

Thanks so much for the comment and for watching! And absolutely, come find us and say hello! - Ashley

[@hardluk3]

I’m a Registered Guide in Maine and I tell my people that horizontal is what matters when swimming in whitewater. Aggressive self rescue; nobody loves you more than you! If you can’t make your way back to a boat quickly, then get in the Defensive Swimming position and keep your nose and toes up. I think you were fine swimming to the eddy. Preventing an entrapment is the main goal.

[@jstpsgthru]

Glad you had a great day. There are plenty of play spots that Creek Boats can take advantage of. Please, please get a bomb-proof roll. You will be much safer, and it will increase the fun factor exponentially.

[@JerKayaks]

Working on it! :) Thanks for watching! - Ashley

[@ctumbles74]

What’s that book in the beginning?

[@JerKayaks]

Kirk Eddlemon's guide books to the southeast! They're amazing books and I find myself flipping thru them all the time! Below are some amazon affiliate links to them if youre interested in picking some up! -Jer amzn.to/3QdQAjB amzn.to/3QcmSLT

[@atwood123456]

I lead you astray there while I was goofing off. My bad. Such a fun day.

[@JerKayaks]

lolololo it haaaaaapens! all good man - Ashley

[@chrisdugmore4436]

What’s PFD?

[@JerKayaks]

Personal First Decent, lol I didn't know either for a while there, so many kayaking terms. - Ashley